|
Lortmil Mountains
Lortmil
Mountains: This low chain of mountains, fading into hills with age, is the
homeland of many dwarves, gnomes, and venturesome halflings, as well as a
few winged folk and scattered human enclave. The good folk acted in concert
almost a century ago to expel most of the nonhumans and vicious monsters
from the Lortmils, and the small folk are common in the states that abut the
range. The Lortmils contain some of the richest gem and precious metal
deposits known. Dwarf clan leaders here are reputed to be as rich as
princes, sought by emissaries from foreign nations for aid. Dwarves are
notoriously immune to such overtures, except for the benefit of their kin in
the Principality of Ulek.
Enclave:
A minority culture group living as an entity within
a larger group.
Well, this is a story of
just such and enclave within the Lortmil Mountains. It about a Dwarves
Guard commanded by Falco, and a number of human barbarian clans that was at
war with each other for 20 years or so. It about two boys that became
friends before they were old enough to understand they were to hate each
other.
The Barbarian and The Dwarf
The Simbacca clan have enjoyed a history of
great battles with the other barbarian clans and Dwarf Falco for sure. Now
their fellowship may verily deliver us. According to my scout we must
arrive within a day or two or Falco and his guards will fall and we will be
trapped between the enemy.
So our path is clear, here we stand against
the Clan Maclean and Clan McDugo. Here we create a future for our soon to
be allies and our selves. If Clan Simbacca are to gain any future allies,
we will need to demonstrate that we can protect them. There are numerous
other smaller Clans that watch, and the pressure of diplomacy mounts. The
winged folk observe from the north, and the Kron Hills Gnomes from the east.
The Dwarves Keep that is build over the mine
is under siege, even from our lands, across the hills, greasy black smoke
streaks the sky. Assault fires mar the otherwise verdant lands around the
keep. Clan McDugo and hordes of their Orc allies living to the east feed
the fires. It is clear that if the Dwarves Keep falls, our cause will
falter, and thus I am imploring all those in my command to reach this
central Keep as quickly as is feasible. Once safe, the Keep will serve as a
fine stronghold to secure the entire area.
The battle goes well for Clan Simbacca and
the Falco Guards, but in helping Falco, the Simbacca lose their patch of
land. It seems that McDugo and the Orcs attacked the Keep and Maclean
attacked the Simbacca holdings, but all of the Simbaccas were at the Dwarven
Keep, helping them push back the McDugo and the Orcs. A many good men and
woman died in battle defending Clan Simbacca’s land holding.
After many weeks and battles, it all came
to an end. Clan McDugo and their Orc allies retreated somewhere southeast.
The Buchanan clans hold the lands to the north of the Dwarves Keep, and the
Maitland and Sinclairs hold the lands to the east. The Maclean hold the
lands to the west and the Simbacca lands to the south of the Dwarves Keep.
The Simbaccas have setup just outside of the Dwarves Keep, about a mile down
the main road. This did not sit well with the Dwarf, but not being a loud
to live in the Keep after helping them did not sit well with Unwyn Simbacca.
As time passed by, things began to get out
of hand between the Falco guard and Unwyn Simbacca. You see it was Falco’s
duty to guard the supply going in and out of the mines and the Keep, and
Unwyn was attacking them for much needed supplies. This went on for years,
attacking the Dwarf’s supply train, until Unwyn died in a battle at the
hands of Falco himself.
Wealsun 8th, 548 CY
When Unwyn Simbacca died in battle, his son
Wilton, at the age of 20, was made the Laird of Clan Simbacca. One of the
first things as the new Laird of “Clan Simbacca” that Wilton did was call
for peace among the other barbarians. He also went to Falco to negotiate a
cease of hostilities on behalf of his clans. Falco turned him down but
Falco did say, “W’ll stop the hostilities during for the time of Brewfest
each year. This cease of hostilities w’ll be at least once a year, fr’m the
22nd of Goodmonth to the 7th of Patchwall. Hostilities will cease for the
time of travel to get to Hommlet for the Brewfest, the time during the
celebration of Brewfest and the travel time to get back to our home without
any fighting.” For now Wilton agreed to this, but this peace was to last
for only 15 years.
Goodmonth 21st, 563
CY
Falco sat in the great hall of the keep
looking at Jagarid, “It’s that time again” the time of peace that will come
with Brewfest. Falco was the head of a dwarf guard squadron that was to
protect and escort to and from the mine, the commoners who work there. At
this time the Human Barbarian clans of Buchanan, Maclean, Maitland, Simbacca,
and Sinclair has been at war with each other for over 20 something years.
But they all agreed to this cease of hostilities at this time of year.
Jagarid looked back at Falco saying, “You
know on that day 20 years ago, if it was not winter we would be home in
Dragonhome.” Falco, “Aye, we would be, but the trails all look a like in
the winter and we turned down the wrong one, right into this hell hole.”
Jagrid, “I know if we did not have the commoner to look out after, we would
have fought our way pass these human barbarians.” Falco, “Yes I know, but I
have a duty to get them home, back to their mine.” Jagarid, “Aye and if
humans didn’t breed like rabbits, we would have killed them all by now.”
Falco, “Aye, but they would have killed themselves by now too, even if we
hadn’t come by anyway.”
Brewfest 3, 563 CY
In the 11th
year of the Clans’ cease of hostilities of the Brewfest harvest and the arts
of brewing celebration, the peace was broken. It was on the third day of the
Brewfest, when it was discover that Falco’s son, Halco, 10 years of age and
Wilton’s son, Jonas, who was also of the same age, were missing from the
Hommlett. Of course both Falco and Wilton’s clan each blame the other clan
for the boys missing from the celebration, and after two more days of
searching for them, all hell broke out between the Clans.
Patchwall 23,
563 CY
At the
start of this little war between the Clans back on the 7th of Brewfest, the
Dwarven clan stood at about 20 warriors and Clan Simbacca at 43 warriors,
and by the 21st of Patchwall, there was less than 20 warriors
left combined among both clans. The two Clans were ready to battle to the
last man, when a gnome representative came to the Falco keep with Halco and
Jonas. It seem that the boys were playing just outside of town and decided
to see who could get back home before the other one could. At first it was
going well for the two boys, home was in the same direction for them. Then
the hills started to look alike to them and before long the two where lost.
The only good thing was that Halco and Jonas decide to stay together. The
Gnome, “Well let just say that Halco and Jonas ended up in gnome land and I
am here to stop all this armed conflict between your clans. A delegate from
all the other landholder from around nearby lands has come. A delegate from
the Gnome, halflings and winged folk were also here to see that you two
clans stop all this fighting now, or we will put a stop to it.”
Patchwall 28, 563 CY
With all the clans and other
landholders now at the Halas Keep, and the Simbacca being the last to arrive
as always, the meeting got started. Wilton was so grad to see his son he
almost cried, but then he noticed that there was something wrong with
Jonas. Jonas was hiding behind Falco and would not come to him. It seemed
that Jagarid had been telling the boys how the Barbarian and the Dwarf hate
each other and that they should not be playing together. So, Jonas has made
up his mind that he will live with Halco, because he now knows that his
father would not love him anymore for playing with a dwarf and he still
loved Halco like a brother. When Wilton heard this from Jonas himself, he
through his head back and let out such a big laughing roar, that it
frightened the winged folk Ambassador, Halco and Jonas too. Wilton looked
down at the two boys and said, “How long have you two been seeing each
other.” At the same time they said, “From the time we where 5 years old. We
only get to see each other at the Brewfest.” Falco, “But how.” Jonas, “You
all get too much Ale in ya and pass out.” Halco adds, ”The first time we
was six, and Jonas and I helped ya all with your Ale after ya all passed
out, and so did we.” Jonas, “Aye, we also ran to the end of town with ye
ale, we did, and me and Halco was as sick as dogs too.” Wilton, “So why did
ya not come to me boy when I got here.” Jonas, “Because Halco tells me that
his father is the strongest one here in the Lortmil Mountains, and I know
how much of a beating I’m gonna get from ya for playing with a dwarf. I
didn’t know I was not suppose to play with him.” With that, Falco hugged
his son and then Jonas. Falco looked at Jonas, “Aye little Simbacca, and if
you ever need help again, I’ll be there for ya.” Wilton just looked at
Falco. Wilton, “Come Jonas, ya can come to the consul meeting with me, and
your friend Halco can sit with us too.” Now Falco just gave Wilton a look
and the two of them let out a big laugh at the same time, and again it
freighted the winged folk and the Gnome Ambassador too.
At the end of the two-week meeting, a small
consul was formed. The Ambassador from the Gnome, halflings, winged folk,
and Dwarves would be on this consul. The Laird from each of the barbarian
clans also would have a seat, with the exception of Clan McDugo. It seems
that no one, even the Laird of Clan Maclean did not like them because the
Macleans did not know that the McDugo was going to use Orcs in the battle on
the Halas Keep. So, before leaving to go back to the Orc lands in the East,
Laird McDugo vowed to defeat them all. Soon after that, Falco and the
entire dwarven guard were called home to Valaduum. Falco was to become
Captain of the Dragonhome Guard and Defender of the Forge. Jagarid Azlond
was to become Captain of the Dragonhome Battleragers squadron.
Needfest 1, 573 CY
After some 10 years after the consul began,
Jonas Simbacca a full grown man ready to take his place not only as the
Laird of Clan Simbacca, but the Laird of all of the Human barbarian clans,
for the first time they will all be under one clan ruler. Jonas is to be
known as “The Laird” of all the Clans. All of the smaller clans will come
under the Simbacca name. Only the Buchanans, Maitlands, Sinclairs’ and the
Macleans will keep their clan names. These four clans will hold the lands
around the Halas Keep to the north, south, east, and west, and they’ll be
beholding to no one but themselves. They will come under “The Laird”
command if the area as a whole comes under attack. The Laird has a final
say on all land disputes and is judgement is final in these matters. In
return, “The Laird” will come under review of the consul at the end of each
year. If the consul deems his worthy, or considers him worthy, he may
continue for another year. If he is not found worthy, then another Laird of
the clans will be chosen from one of the four remaining clans.
By 573 CY, Halco at the age of 20, still a
young boy by dwarven standards, was still too young to be a warrior. Jonas
also age 20, being a man now by human standards and having no time for his
life long friend, made it up to Halco by naming him protector and trainer to
his first born son Brodrick, when the boy comes of age. By 591CY, Halco was
the best mentor Jonas could have appointed for his son’s, Brodrick (19),
William (17), and at her father side, little Ariana, age 13.
Patchwall
3, 591 CY
The Brewfest in Hommlet has been
over for 3 days now and all of the Highlanders are packing up to go home
when Laird Simbacca sees a group of people bringing the body of two fallen
friend back to town. This intrigues Laird Jonas to the point that he would
investigate what happened. Just by looking at their numbers and equipment,
they should not have had any trouble with any one-group of people. Still,
two of their numbers has fallen to someone or something, and he would hear
of this. Upon a closer look at the group, Jonas could see that maybe this
is the group of heroes called “The Blades of Light”, that most of the Bards
in town was telling stories about.
After the Blades had taken care
of their fallen friends, Laird Jonas Simbacca approached the group about his
son Brodrick. Jonas, “The boy is in his 19th season of life and he is well
trained in the art of combat, but the boy has not been battle tested as of
yet. If the boy is to take my place as Laird some day, he will have to earn
his battle scars in true battle, not in mock combat. So, what say ye
Blades, can ya use another hand in ya cause? Brodrick come here boy, I like
ya to meet the Blades of Light. Blades this heres my son Brodrick and his
friend and mine, Halco. Halco here is the son of Falco and my son’s
protector, but Halco will not help him in this quest if you take him into ya
care, he must do this alone. Bartender, more Ale for the Blades, while they
make of their minds.
|
